EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

University of Iowa

2015-2018
Master of Arts in Linguistics
Focus in TESL

Website

Chernivtsi National University

2016
Ukrainian-Scandinavian Summer School

Website

The Language House TEFL

2016
Certification to Teach English as a Foreign/Second Language

View certificate

Truman State University

May 2013
Bachelor of Science in Linguistics
Minor in Spanish for Professions
GPA:3.89/4.0
Magna Cum Laude
Departmental Honors

Website

University of Pennsylvania
Institute for Research in Cognitive Science

2012
Summer Workshop

Website

Missouri State University

2009 (prior to transfer)
Major: Spanish
Minor: Linguistics
GPA: 4.0/4.0

Website

RESEARCH

A Pragmatic Analysis of “Like”: Power, Gender, and Sexual Orientation
Presented at NCUR 2013

Link to Poster

Memes and humor: a linguistic analysis
2013

Paper PDF

Wernicke’s Area: Current Research
2012
Research Paper
(Writing Sample)

Paper PDF

17th century Spanish manuscript analysis
2011
Translated, and performed phonological, graphemic, and etymological analysis of a 17th century manuscript in Spanish

EMPLOYMENT

  • Oct. 2018 – Present
    • Appen
      U.S. English Linguist
  • Aug. 2017 – May 2018
    • University of Iowa, Department of Linguistics
      Graduate Teaching Assistant, English as a Foreign Language (Oral Skills, Reading)
  • Sept. 2016 – Jan. 2017
    • Jiangxi Agricultural University, Department of Languages
      Teacher of English as a Foreign Language
  • Oct. 2014 – Present
    • Independent Travel Consultant
  • Aug. 2015 – May 2016
    • University of Iowa, Department of Linguistics
      Graduate Teaching Assistant, Language and Formal Reasoning
  • Oct. 2014 – Dec. 2014
    • General Dynamics Information Technology
      Bilingual customer service representative
  • Dec. 2013 – Aug. 2014
    • La Fuente Mexican Restaurant
      Waiter, serving staff
  • Jun. – Sep. 2013
    • CableOne
      Cable and internet technician
  • 2012-2013
    • Truman State University
      Language tutor – Japanese, English, Spanish
  • 2013
    • Truman State University
      Teaching Assistant – Department of Linguistics
  • Jun. 2011 – Jun. 2013
    • Adair County Public Library
      Circulation clerk

MEMBERSHIPS

Sigma Delta Pi
National collegiate Hispanic honor society

Website

Omicron Delta Kappa
National leadership honor society

Website

National Society of Collegiate Scholars
Honors organization for university students

Website

Phi Beta Kappa Society
National academic honor society

Website

Prism
Truman State University’s Gay-Straight Alliance
OFFICES HELD:
2011-2012 :: Political Chair
2011-2013 :: Webmaster
2012-2013 :: President

Website

VOLUNTEERING

1000 Kids for Iowa, 2014-2015
Aiding families to navigate legal system for asylum and refugee status
Translation of documents in Spanish, and interpreting
Community organizing

Website

Silva Green Food & Guesthouses, 2015
Akureyri, Iceland
Vegan restaurant

Website

Victim Support Services, 2011-2013
Kirksville, MO
Crisis Line, resource for domestic abuse survivors
Technical support

Facebook

Missourians for Equality, 2012-2013
PAC founded to end LGBT discrimination in Missouri.

Wiki

Who I Am

I research how speakers modify the acoustic properties of their speech as a function of group identity and gender expression. Using recordings of spontaneous speech, I map vowel spaces and identify distinctive speech characteristics between groups, specifically with regard to gender expression and sexuality.
As an ESL Teacher, I often reconfigure curricula and develop new materials based on PPP methodology. I use my background in linguistics to make recommendations which are specific to the needs of students according to their first language and the target language.
As an avid world traveler, I have designed a personal website and travel blog to share my experiences and develop critical ethnographies to develop more accurate and nuanced descriptions of the cultures and places I visit– namely, by including historical information and sociopolitical background.